Automatic sprinkler



Dec. 11, 1962 F. J. KAVANAGH 3,0

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed July 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1..

INVENTOR. FEEfiEQ/CK (A K4/4/1/46A;

Dec. 11, 1962 J, K N 3,067,823

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed July 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG: 4.

3,067,823 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Frederick J. Kavanagh, 158 W. 88th St.,New York, N.Y. Filed July 1, 1960, Ser. No. 40,408 4 Claims. (Cl. 16941)This invention relates to water sprinklers, and more particularly to anautomatic fire extinguishing sprinkler.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedautomatic sprinkler device which is simple in construction, which isefficient in operation, and which is normally maintained in asubstantially inconspicuous retracted position but which automaticallymoves into operating position responsive to a predetermined rise intemperature.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved automaticsprinkler device adapted to be installed in a water supply conduit andarranged to automatically become operative responsive to a predeterminedrise in temperature, the sprinkler device being inexpensive tofabricate, being reliable in operation, and providing a rotating, widelydistributed water spray therebeneath, whereby it is highly effective inextinguishing a fire in the region subjacent same.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through an improvedautomatic sprinkler device constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, and shown in its normal retracted position.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 22 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross sectional View taken on the line 3-3 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the elements forming the main casingof the sprinkler device of FIGURE 1, said elements being shown inseparated positions.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the elements forming the internalassembly of the sprinkler device of FIG- URE 1, the elements being shownin separated positions.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates a water supply conduit which isformed with a plurality of spaced depending conduit fittings 12 to whichsprinkler heads are adapted to be connected. Designated generally at 13is an improved automatic sprinkler device constructed in accordance withthe present invention, the sprinkler device being adapted to beconnected to a depending conduit fitting 12 of the water supply conduit,it being understood that the various conduit fittings of the supplyconduit would be similarly equipped with sprinkler devices according tothe present invention and presently to be described.

The sprinkler device 13 comprises a generally cylindrical main outertubular body 14 formed at its top end with external threads 15 which arethreadably engageable in the internal threads of the associateddepending conduit fitting element 12. The upper portion of the body 14is formed with diametrically opposed substantially flattened recessedportions 16, 16 engageable by the opposite jaws of a suitable wrench fortightening or loosening the body with respect to the conduit element 12.

The tubular body 14 is formed at its lower portion with internal threads17 in which is threadedly engaged a generally cylindrical lower tubularbody 18 provided with the bottom cover disc 19, the cover disc beingreleasably secured in an annular recess 2% formed in the bottom rimnited States Patent of the body 18 by a quantity of fusible material 21,such as soft solder, or the like, which is engaged between the rim ofthe cover 19 and the annular recess 20 in which said rim is received, asis clearly shown in FIGURE 1. The fusible material 21 is of a suitablelow melting point so that it melts responsive to a predetermined rise intemperature, such as the rise in temperature which accompanies a fire inthe vicinity of the device, whereby to release the cover member 19 andallow the cover member to drop out of the tubular lower body member 18.

Threadedly engaged with the upper portion of the threads 17 is a guidedisc 22 formed with a central circular opening 23 and with a pluralityof vertical passages 24 spaced outwardly from the opening 23. Slidablyengaged in the opening 23 is a tubular shaft member 25 which is disposedaxially in the body 14, as shown in FIGURE 1, and which is provided atits top end with a circular piston 26 threadedly secured thereon andslidably and sealingly engaged with the inside surface of tubular body14.

The piston 26 is provided with diametrically opposed recesses 27, 27adapted to be engaged by a spanner wrench for threading the member 26 onthe tubular shaft member 25 during the assembly of the device.

The tubular shaft member 25 is formed at its top end with the generallyfrusto conical valve seat 28 which normally is sealingly engaged by afrusto conical valve element 29 centrally secured to a diametricallyarranged supporting bar 30 mounted in a ring member 31 which is in turnthreadedly engaged with internal threads 32 formed in the top end of thebody 14.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the ring member 31 is formed with inner threads 33and outer threads 34, the outer threads 34 being threadedly engaged withthe internal threads 32 of the top end of the tubular body 14, and thebar 30 being formed with serrations 36 fitting the internal threads 33of ring 31 so that the bar member 30 is threadedly engaged inside thering member 33 and is supported thereby in a position substantiallysimilar to that illustrated in FIGURE 1. The frusto conical valve member29 is provided with the axial, upstanding shank 37 which is engagedthrough a central aperture 38 provided in the bar member 30 and which issecured thereto by a nut 39. A washer 40 is interposed between thefrusto conical valve element 29 and the bottom surface of the bar member30, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 1.

Designated at 42' is a downwardly tapering sprinkler head which isformed with the cylindrical upper securing portion 43 which is rotatablysupported by the lower portion of the tubular shaft member 25. Thus, thetubular shaft member 25 is provided with a bottom supporting collar 44threadedly secured thereon, the collar 44 being formed with an annularball bearing raceway 45 arranged concentric therewith in which aplurality of ball bearings 46 are supported. Threadedly engaged in thetop portion of the cylindrical element 43 is an annular bearing collar47 formed with downwardly facing ball sockets opposing the raceway 45and receiving the ball bearings 46, so that the sprinkler head 42 isrotatably supported on the collar 44 and thus is rotatably supported onthe bottom end of the vertical tubular shaft 25. The upper bearingcollar 47 is formed with a plurality of vertical vent passages 48communicating with said ball sockets so that the space adjacent the ballbearings 46 is open to the atmosphere around the sprinkler head 42.

Secured in the lower portion of the cylindrical member 43 is a nozzleplate 49 which is formed with opposed 3 downwardly inclined arcuatepassages 50 which are shaped to induce a swirling action in the waterpassing therethrough and to develop a reaction causing the met ber 49 torotate. As shown in FIGURE 1, the member 49 is rigidly secured to thesprinkler head 42 by opposing fastening screws 51, 51, so that thereaction of water moving downwardly through the inclined passages 56 istransmitted to the sprinkler head 42, causing the sprinkler head torotate with respect to the tubular shaft member 25.

The sprinkler head 42 is formed in its lower portion with thediametrically opposed pairs of vertical slots 54- through which watermay be discharged and which are of sufiicient size so that thedischarging water will emerge in the form of a spray of substantialhorizontal width and will thus cover a relatively large area beneath thesprinkler device.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the body members 14 and 18 are dimensioned so thatthe cover plate 12 normally engages the bottom of the sprinkler head .-2and supports the interior assembly including the sprinkler head and thevertical shaft member 25 in a position elevated suiticiently to maintainthe valve seat 23 in sealing engag ment with the frusto conical valveelement 2?. This normally seals the sprinkler device and prevents waterfrom flowing downwardly through the tubular shaft member 25. However,when a sufificiently large rise in temperature occurs adjacent to thesprinkler device, the fusible material 21 melts and releases the coverdisc 19, allowing the water pressure to act on the piston member 26 andforce same downwardly to cause the sprinkler head 42 to descend to thedotted view position thereof shown in FIGURE 1. The valve seat 23disengages from the frusto conical valve element 29, allowing freepassage of water downwardly through the tubular shaft 25. The waterdischarges through the apertured nozzle plate #9 and is deflectedlaterally by the inclined passages 56, developing a reaction whichcauses the sprinkler head 43 to spin, so that the water discharges fromthe slots 54 with a relatively rapid rotary movement, causing thedischarging water to spread over a relatively large area subjacent thesprinkler device.

It will be noted that when conditions are normal, the sprinkler head 42is supported in its retracted position, shown in FIGURE 1, and isrelatively inconspicuous. Only when a predetermined temperature riseoccurs, for example the rise in tcn'tperature accompanying a fire in theimme iate vicinity of the sprinkler device, does the sprinkler head 42descend into operating position and deliver the rotating water spray tothe area subjacent the device.

As shown in FIGURES l and 4, the lower tubular body member 18 isprovided with a plurality of recesses 6 spaced so that a suitable toolmay be engaged in said recesses to tighten the member 18 in the threads17 of the main body member 14, or to release same when the device istaken apart. As shown in FIGURE l, the lo 'er tubular body member 18 isordinarily tightened suitrciently in the threads 17 to lock the guidedisc 22 in a stationary position with respect to the threads 17, so thatthe body member 13 acts as a lock nut with respect to the guide disc 22.

As further shown in FIGURE 1, the bottom end of the tubular shaft 25 isformed with a downwardly flaring frusto conical discharge rim 6?;allowing the water descending therethrough to spread over the majorportion of the area of the swirl plate 4) and to freely enter theinclined arcuately curved swirl passages 54), 50.

While the main portion of the sprinkler unit is intended as a permanentins'a lation, the recesses 69 make it possible to easily remove memberby the use of a suitable tool engaged in said recesses, so that theoriginal member 1'8 may be removed after the sprinkler unit has beenactivated, and may be replaced by another member 18 provided with a newcover disc 19, whereby the sprinkler unit may be reset for the nextactivation thereof.

While a specific embodiment of an improved automatic sprinkler devicehas been disclosed in the forcgoing description, it will be understoodthat various moditications within the spirit of the invention may occurto those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that nolimitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic sprinkler comprising a tubular main body adapted to beconnected to a water supply conduit, an inner conduit open at its topend and siidably mounted in said main body, an apertured sprinkler headconnected to the lower end of said inner conduit, a sealing elementmounted in the upper portion of said main body ifllCZlil with andseaiingly receivable in the top end of th. inner conduit, andtemperature-responsive releasa'ie support means in the lower portion ofsaid main e open top end of said inner conduit in sealing receivngengagement with said sealing element and being reeasable responsive to apredetermined rise in temperature.

2. An automatic sprinkler comprising a tubular main body adapted to beconnected to a water supply conduit, an inner conduit open at its topend and disposed longitudinaliy in said main body, a circular pistonsecured to said inner conduit and slidably and sealin gly engaging theinside surface of said main body, an apertured sprinkler head connectedto the lower end of said inner conduit, a sealing element mounted in theupper portion of said main body in alignment with and sealinglyreceivable in the top end of the inner conduit, andtemperatureresponsive releasable support means in the lower portion ofsaid main body and engaging said sprinkler head to normally hold theopen top end of said inner conduit in sealing receiving engagement withsaid sealing element and being releasable responsive to a predeterminedrise in temperature.

3. An automatic sprinkler comprising a tubular main body adapted to beconnected to a water supply conduit, an inner conduit open at its topend and disposed longitudinally in said main body, a circular pistonsecured to said inner conduit and slidably and sealingly engaging theinside surface of said main body, an apertured sprinkler head journaledon the lower end of said inner conduit, a sealing element mounted in theupper portion of said main body in alignment with and sealinglyreceivable in the top end of the inner conduit, a supporting cover inthe lower end of said main body engaging said sprinkler head to normallyhold the open top end of said inner conduit in settling receivingengagement with said sealing element, and fusible means connecting saidsupporting cover to the lower end of the main body and being fusible torelease the supporting cover responsive to a predetermined rise intemperature.

4. An automatic sprinkler comprising a tubular main body adapted to beconnected to a water supply conduit, an inner conduit open at its topend disposed longitudinally in said main body, a circular piston securedto said inner conduit and slidably and sealingly engaging the insidesurface of said main body, a sprinkler head journaled on the lower endof said inner conduit, said sprin ler head having a vertically slottedbottom wall, a scaling element mounted in the upper portion of said mainbody in alignment with and sealingly receivable in the top end of theinner conduit, a supporting cover in the lower end of said main bodyengaging said sprinkicr head to normally hold the open top end of saidinner conduit in sealing receiving engagement with said sealing element,fusible means connecting said supporting cover to the lower end of themain body and being fusible to release the supporting cover responsiveto a predetermined rise in temperature, and an apertured reaction membermounted in said s, '1; head above the vertical slots of said bottom walland having a downwardly extending inclined passage therethrough, saidreaction member being disposed in the path of movement of water throughthe sprinkler head, whereby to develop a rotational reaction on thesprinkler head responsive to the 5 flow of Water through the reactionmember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LeeIan. 10, 1950

